# US 10,246,002 B2 · Lighting device for vehicle

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- Number: US 10,246,002 B2
- Document ID: US10246002B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/819,505
- Filed: 2017-11-21
- Published: 2018-06-14
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-14
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha; Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha; Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Fumihiko Mouri; Susumu Yamamoto; Satoshi Yamamura
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246002B2

## CPC

- B60Q 1/085: {due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers (B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence)}
- B60Q 1/18: being additional front lights {(bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483)}
- F21S 41/143: the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device
- F21S 41/153: arranged in a matrix
- F21S 41/255: Lenses with a front view of circular or truncated circular outline
- F21S 41/43: characterised by the shape thereof
- F21S 41/663: by switching light sources (by switching incandescent light sources F21S41/162)
- F21V 11/08: using diaphragms containing one or more apertures
- F21V 23/0471: {the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person}
- B60Q 2300/45: Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A lighting device for a vehicle includes an irradiator that includes a light source mounted in the vehicle, and a shield that is provided to face an emission side of band-shaped light from the light source. The irradiator is configured to emit the band-shaped light from the light source at a predetermined irradiation angle to irradiate a road surface with the band-shaped light, and the irradiator is configured to change an irradiation direction of the band-shaped light toward the road surface. The shield is configured to shield a part of the band-shaped light such that the road surface is illuminated in a shape of a figure indicating prescribed information.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lighting device for a vehicle, the lighting device comprising:
an irradiator that includes a light source mounted in the vehicle, the irradiator being configured to emit band-shaped light from the light source at a predetermined irradiation angle to irradiate a road surface with the band-shaped light, and the irradiator being configured to change an irradiation direction of the band-shaped light toward the road surface;
a detector configured to detect a pedestrian; and
a shield that is provided to face an emission side of the band-shaped light from the light source, the shield being configured to shield a part of the band-shaped light such that the road surface is illuminated in a shape of a figure indicating prescribed information in an orientation configured to be read by the detected pedestrian.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the shield has an emission hole that is formed to make a part of the band-shaped light pass and to have a shape similar to the figure in a shield portion shielding a part of the band-shaped light.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the prescribed information is character information that attracts attention of the detected pedestrian.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The lighting device according to claim 2, wherein:
the irradiator includes a first light emitter and a second light emitter as the light source;
the first light emitter is configured to emit light for irradiating a first irradiation region on a road surface at a prescribed distance from the vehicle;
the second light emitter is configured to irradiate a second irradiation region on a road surface at a prescribed distance from the vehicle in a direction away from the first irradiation region; and
the shield has a first emission hole that is formed to make a part of light emitted from the first light emitter pass, and a second emission hole that is formed to make a part of light emitted from the second light emitter pass, a size of the second emission hole being smaller than a size of the first emission hole.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a control device configured to perform control such that, in a case where the pedestrian is detected by the detector, the irradiator irradiates a region at a prescribed distance from the detected pedestrian with light.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the figure is projected at a position 70 degrees or less downward from an estimated eye level of the detected pedestrian.